Yorkshire developer Wykeland Group and Hambleton District Council have won a major property industry award for the transformation of the former Northallerton Prison.
The partners received a Game Changer Award at the Yorkshire Property Awards 2021 in recognition of the £17m mixed-use Treadmills scheme.
Treadmills has been delivered by the Central Northallerton Development Company Ltd joint venture formed by Wykeland and Hambleton District Council.
The development has reinvented the derelict, 230-year-old prison site as a stunning digital workspace, educational facility and mixed-use retail and leisure community, with further investment now being delivered on site.
Organised by Variety, the children’s charity, the Yorkshire Property Awards is the definitive event for the region’s property industry and celebrates achievement and excellence across the commercial property sector.
The accolade for Treadmills was presented during an awards ceremony at Rudding Park Hotel in Harrogate, attended by hundreds of property professionals from across Yorkshire.
Dominic Gibbons, managing director of Wykeland, said: “We’re very proud that this award has recognised the quality of the Treadmills scheme and the many benefits it has delivered to the economy, community and built environment in Northallerton.
“Our investment with our partners at Hambleton District Council has breathed new life into a landmark site which had fallen into disuse and decline.
“By combining sensitive renovation and remodelling of the Grade II-listed former prison buildings and new-build development we have created a flagship new destination.”
Councillor Mark Robson, leader of Hambleton District Council, said: “We are delighted to have been presented with this prestigious award for our Treadmills development – it truly is a game changer for Northallerton and the Hambleton district, bringing retail, leisure and business opportunities into the town.
“Together with Wykeland, we have transformed an old prison into an iconic centrepiece for the town – a development the District Council is very proud of.”
One of the judges, Bruce Lightbody, Partner at law firm Addleshaw Goddard, Major Sponsor of the Yorkshire Property Awards 2021, said: “The judges were pleased to see the regeneration of this former prison site by a public sector and private developer collaboration, designed to address the needs of Northallerton in delivering not just retail but, importantly, a digital hub creating local tech jobs.
“Complementing listed building restorations with looking to the future and the eCampus project with education establishments, these were all seen as aspects that will bring new energy to the town.”
The first phase of Treadmills opened last December and was focused on retail, with three newbuild stores, anchored by Lidl, and a 126-space car park.
Phase two involved the remodelling of five Grade II-listed buildings, including to create the C4DI (Centre for Digital Innovation) Northallerton tech hub, which opened in May.
C4DI Northallerton is complemented by a digital education “eCampus”, involving the University of Sunderland and York College.
The final phase, now getting underway, includes a new cinema to be operated by upmarket group Everyman, three restaurant units, the conversion of the former Governor’s House and a showpiece civic square.
The Treadmills project is supported by the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, which secured investment of £1.8m from the Government’s Local Growth Fund for the redevelopment and fit-out of C4DI and a further £675,00 from the Government’s Getting Building Fund for the eCampus.
The final phase of the project is being part-funded with £4.75m from the Government’s Future High Street Fund.
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